Stiff Right Jab: Out of the rubble - The new Soviet Union
By Steve Montgomery & Steve Farrell
web posted October 8, 2001
Taras Kuzio, research associate at the Centre for International &
Security Studies at York University, writing in the October 4
Christian Science Monitor, confirmed what this column has been
warning since the attack on September 11th, that this tragedy
would be exploited by the powers that be to raise up, among
other things, a new empowered Soviet Union.
Mr. Kuzio warns, "Washington should remain cautious: Moscow
is using the terrorist acts of Sept. 11 to further four strategic
goals:"
Russia is demanding a free hand in dealing with its own
"terrorists" in Chechnya. Russia would like the US and
international organizations to allow it, in effect, to eradicate
"terrorism" from Chechnya. This would lead to even greater
human-rights abuses. The US and some of its allies have already
begun to change their rhetoric on Chechnya. Russia believes that
international outrage over the Sept. 11 attacks provides a good
opportunity to influence world opinion that the Chechens are not
pursuing a "national-liberation struggle" but are, in reality, simply
terrorists. Russian Army Gen. Anatoly Kulikov has offered to
share not only Russia's experience in combating Chechen
"terrorists," but also Soviet experience in fighting the "nationalist
underground" in western Ukraine, western Belarus, and the
Baltics after World War II. Many Ukrainian, Belarusian, and
Baltic Americans remember what this antiterrorist experience
entailed: ethnic cleansing, atrocities, and mass disregard for
human rights in their former homelands.
Russia wants the US to recognize the territory of the former
Soviet Union as a Russian sphere of influence, especially in
Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Ukraine." Include on that list:
"countries that are distrustful of Russia, such as . . . Uzbekistan,
Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Ukraine, . . . [and] Moldova.
Russia wants to take the three Baltic ["former" Soviet republics]
states off the list of potential members of the second round of
NATO enlargement . . . Russia is hoping that, in return for its
cooperation against terrorism, the US will agree to respect its
Soviet "red line" as a NATO no-go area.
Russia wants to use its new alliance with the US to halt
Washington's plans for a national missile defense shield.
Kuzio, an expert on "post" Soviet Ukrainian affairs, also reminds
his readers of Russia's consistent employment of double
standards. He reveals the chilling detail that it was Russian
military intelligence in 1992-93 which trained Chechen leader
Shamil Basayev, and it was the Russian government which in the
early 1990's, "covertly supported separatist movements in
Moldova, Georgia, and Azerbaijan."
Russia sends in peacekeeping forces to break up the conflicts
they stealthfully caused, under the condition that "it turn its
peacekeeping forces into forward military bases, thereby
rewarding its support for separatism (or terrorism) and
transforming them into geopolitical gains."
Kuzio concludes that we "should not compromise [our] moral
ground by agreeing to Russia's four strategic objectives. It would
be indeed ironic if, in demanding that the US military response
not target civilians, we agreed to accept Russia's offer of
expertise in combating terrorism. Russia has been condemned by
all international human rights organizations, the US, and other
Western governments for its disregard for civilian lives and gross
infringement on human rights. . . .[including, the article notes] 80,
000 casualties" in Chechnya. (1)
Amen. Mr. Kuzio.
Observation
As Mr. Kuzio illustrated, communists are masters of misdirection
and false opposition movements. Lives expended in the process
mean little. Remember "the border wars" between Russia and
China? If so, remember this, a secret bilateral, multi-billion
dollar, hi-tech trade relationship never ceased between the two.
Yes, even as they posed as enemies and killed each others
citizens, China shared US military technology with Russia,
courtesy of George F. Kennan styled aid and educational
exchanges.
Terrorism in Spades
There's really nothing new under the sun. The more the United
States enrolls Russia and other sponsors of terrorism, the more
terrorism will be promoted, and the more vulnerable America
will become.
Our new "ally" Russia has already rushed to prove an old point.
Hours after the US's allies agreed to tighten down the financial
spigots that feed the terrorists, Russia opened the floodgates,
and nobody seems to care:
On September 30 Kyoto News reports: "Iraq and Russia have
signed a package deal covering more than 70 projects to be
implemented by Russian firms at a cost of about $40 billion, the
official Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported Sunday." (2)
Two days later, AP reported that Russia and Iran came to an
agreement on an 8 billion dollar arms deal. What will anti-
American, anti-Israeli Iran get?
"The Iranians are believed to be interested in a range of Russian
weapons systems, including air defense missiles and fighter jets .
. .
[and] especially interested in acquiring long-range S-300 air
defense missiles to protect the Bushehr nuclear power plant and
other strategic facilities [from Israel], medium-range Buk M1 and
Tor M1 air defense missiles and Su-27 fighter jets.
"Iran also would like to buy supersonic Yakhont anti-ship
missiles which have a range of 186 miles, Iskander-E tactical
ground-to-ground missiles with a range of 174 miles and 550
BMP-3 armored infantry vehicles." (3)
Finally, terrorist sponsor Iran will help terrorist sponsor Russia,
arm the anti-Taliban forces. And what will the anti-Taliban forces
then do? Shoot down jets with Israelis on board?
77 Israeli's Gunned Down Over Soviet Airspace
It's possible. Think about it. America, under the leadership of
"conservative" President Bush trembles before mother Russia,
fearing to offend them. What other explanation is there for a
Bush Administration who leaps to Russia's defense, giving them
an instant out when a Russian Airliner loaded with Israeli's was
shot down yesterday?
An accident? One of the most technologically advanced
militaries, with one of the most centralized command structures in
the world, shoots down a civilian jet liner filled with Israelis,
during the heat of a crisis which focuses on hatred for an
American/Israeli alliance - and it's an accident! Doesn't Russia,
like the Mafia, have a somewhat unusual reputation for
"accidents?"
Can you spell KAL 007? Can we not hear again the voice of
Grigory Yavlinski, regarding Vladimir Putin's ways: "Comrades,
there might be explosions soon, so take this into account." (4)
Russia and Freedom of the Press
The Russian government was not too happy about the
Washington Times revelation that the Russian Mafia has been
supplying Usama bin Laden with components for chemical,
biological, and nuclear weapons.
From the Moscow Times:
"The [Russian] Foreign Ministry said Thursday that the report
raises a question: "Why should such information be splashed out
on newspaper pages instead of discussing it through the channels
existing between our countries, including confidential ones?"
"One may get the impression that some in the United States
oppose the positive tendency in Russian-American relations that
has made itself felt recently," the ministry said in a statement
carried by Interfax."
Considering the instant support factor from the Bush
Administration following the "accidental" killing of 77 Israeli's on
Thursday, it seems that Russia has taught the United States a
thing or two about working through "proper channels," in order
to insure the people get the truth.
A Russian Joke
Speaking of the truth, a Russian immigrant and educator related
to us the following. "In Moscow there are two newspapers.
Pravda, and Izvestia. Pravda," he said, "means ‘the truth.'
Izvestia, ‘the news.'" He continued, "The saying goes in
Moscow, there is no Pravda in the Izvestia, and no Izvestia in the
Pravda!"
It seems the common Russian citizen knows more about Russia,
our "ally" than our President does.
Contact Steve & Steve at StiffRightJab@aol.com. If you haven't
already, read Part 6 of Steve Farrell's Democrats in Drag and
Part 9 of Missing the Mark With Religion. Missed a Stiff Right
Jab? Visit our NewsMax archives
Footnotes
1. Beware Russia's motives, The Christian Science Monitor,
October 4, 2001 Return
2. Iraq, Russia strike project deal worth $40 billion, Kyodo
News, Sept. 30, 2001 Return
3. World: Russian, Iranian officials discuss U.S. retaliation, arms
deal, Associated Press, October 2, 2001 Return
4. As quoted by the Center for Defense Information, Jan. 23,
2000, from an interview that appeared in RFE/RL Russian
Service, Jan. 22, 2000. Return
Enter Stage Right - http://www.enterstageright.com